USA Junior National Team Begins Preparation For S72 Campaign

[Shaka 228]

USA Junior National Team Begins Preparation For S72 Campaign

 

USA's Junior National Team hit the ice for it's first practice on Friday, officially beginning it's preparations for the nation's Season 72 WJC campaign that is slated to begin on Monday. After a disappointing campaign in Season 71 saw a defending-champion USA team fail to medal, USA Hockey has turned to hyper culture-driver Shaka Lawal in an effort to turn around the team's trajectory and make a run at what would be the country's third Gold Medal since the game's began in S62.

 

Leading the charge are a litany of talented young Americans, including the VHLM's current point leader Adam Syreck and five of the twelve first rounders taken in the Season 72 VHL Draft: Robin Winter(2nd), Gino DiGiannantonio(4th), Randy Marsh(5th), General Zod(6th) and Lucas Brandt(9th). For five of the fifteen chosen, it'll be an attempt to play revenge for Season 71 as Chance Rust joins Marsh, Zod, Winter and DiGiannantonio in their second attempt at WJC glory. Syreck, who was not chosen to play for the team a season ago, is the only player that was on the S70 Gold Metal team two years prior. The team also makes history this year as the first to field a (surprisingly fast) third generation player, with defenseman Shawn Glade III following his father and grandfathers steps in a USA Juniors jersey.

 

Perhaps the weakness of the team, which is expected to be one of the top offensive teams in the tournament, may lie in net. Reaper John Poremba is expected to beat out Cal Conway for Goalie, but general manager Kaden Carter has remained confident about the team's chances with either between the pipes stating the team "believes in our guys." As the team prepares, fans across the country await eagerly for another chance to proudly don the read, white and blue and cheer for USA Hockey, win or lose.

 

You can catch this year's WJC Coverage HERE starting this Monday only on Victory Sports Network.